Thursday, July 10, 2008

Finishing Footers

Honduras. Day 43.

Today was a blast.

I woke up early enough to go with Marc and pick up Milton from the apartments. The others were going to go work at the warehouse and then at the dump today, but I really wanted to go with Milton and work in Mirador Oriente on the footers for the new high school. So Marc took us to Oriente, dropped us off, and he went to meet the others.

And so I was, once again, the only gringo left on the mountain. It was very remincient of my first few days in Hondo. It was just me, Milton, Omar, and Erixon. I couldn't have picked a better crew though. I mixed loads and loads of concrete all day long, listened to Omar's regaeton music, and laughed and laughed at jokes in Spanish that I was actually beginning to get.

Being the only gringo on the mountain taught me several things today:

Today I learned Spanish. Officially. It was either learn it, or shut up and stay out of the loop. And I'm not good at being quiet all day.

Today I learned the value of an education. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for not letting me drop out in kindergarten when I thought I had had enough. I know realize that I do not want to work construction for a living.

Today I learned that using concrete mixers and cement trucks is cheating.

But today I also learned that, no matter how hard the labor may be, or how out of my element I may find myself to be, I always have reasons to thank my God. Me and Milton took a breakfast break around 10:30, and we just had such great, deep conversations that I can't help but be thankful for my friendship with him. He told me today what a great friend he considers me to be, and that really meant a lot. I also enjoyed the good feeling that came from finishing the footers and having Marc really compliment us for a job well done; I thank God for the ability to work hard and accomplish stuff that feels so good to accomplish.

But above and beyond it all, I thank God that, no matter how hard or weird a day is, I am never without Him. He goes with me and works beside me in every single thing that I may do in a day. And that's pretty awesome.

Great day.

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